If your report contains negative information that is unfamiliar to you, you should definitely take steps to find out what the negative entry is on your credit files. Sometimes when individuals are contacted about unfamilar debts, it could be a sign that you have become a victim of identity theft, and you will need to take immediate steps to protect yourself. For more information on this subject you may go to the identity theft section at:"
If you are referring to an online credit report, depending on the source of the credit report, you should be able to go into the section on your report where the item appears, and select "details" or some other link that will provide the name of the company that has filed the negative information. You can then take steps to contact that company to get clarification on the unfamiliar item that is appearing on your report. In some cases, it may not be the original creditor, but a collections agency that is trying to collect on a previous debt. If this turns out to be the case, under the Fair Debt Collections Practices Act, you are allowed to validate this debt, and the creditor (in this case, the collection agency) must show you proof that the debt is valid and that you owe the debt to the collection agency (not to the original creditor.) Here is the actual section of the FDPA which deals with the question you have asked:
FDCPA Section 809. Validation of debts [15 USC 1692g]
(b) If the consumer notifies the debt collector in writing within the thirty-day period described in subsection (a) that the debt, or any portion thereof, is disputed, or that the consumer requests the name and address of the original creditor, the debt collector shall cease collection of the debt, or any disputed portion thereof, until the debt collector obtains verification of the debt or any copy of a judgment, or the name and address of the original creditor, and a copy of such verification or judgment, or name and address of the original creditor, is mailed to the consumer by the debt.
If your report contains negative information that is unfamiliar to you, you should definitely take steps to find out what the negative entry is on your credit files. Sometimes when individuals are contacted about unfamilar debts, it could be a sign that you have become a victim of identity theft, and you will need to take immediate steps to protect yourself. For more information on this subject you may go to the identity theft section at:"
www.creditlearningcenter.com
If you are referring to an online credit report, depending on the source of the credit report, you should be able to go into the section on your report where the item appears, and select "details" or some other link that will provide the name of the company that has filed the negative information. You can then take steps to contact that company to get clarification on the unfamiliar item that is appearing on your report. In some cases, it may not be the original creditor, but a collections agency that is trying to collect on a previous debt. If this turns out to be the case, under the Fair Debt Collections Practices Act, you are allowed to validate this debt, and the creditor (in this case, the collection agency) must show you proof that the debt is valid and that you owe the debt to the collection agency (not to the original creditor.) Here is the actual section of the FDPA which deals with the question you have asked:
FDCPA Section 809. Validation of debts [15 USC 1692g]
(b) If the consumer notifies the debt collector in writing within the thirty-day period described in subsection (a) that the debt, or any portion thereof, is disputed, or that the consumer requests the name and address of the original creditor, the debt collector shall cease collection of the debt, or any disputed portion thereof, until the debt collector obtains verification of the debt or any copy of a judgment, or the name and address of the original creditor, and a copy of such verification or judgment, or name and address of the original creditor, is mailed to the consumer by the debt.
We wish you the best with your credit.
The CLC Help Center